Sleeping Once In Two Days: Healthy Or Harmful?

Sleep is essential for our health and happiness. While most people sleep for seven or eight hours straight each night, some people adopt a biphasic sleep schedule, which involves sleeping in two segments per day. This type of sleep pattern was common in pre-industrial times, when people would wake up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night. Today, some people adopt a biphasic sleep schedule to increase productivity, but there is limited research on the health effects of this sleep pattern. While it may be challenging to implement with a busy schedule, some people find that biphasic sleep comes naturally to them and works well. However, it is important to prioritize getting adequate sleep, as sleep deprivation can have negative consequences for both physical and mental health.

Sleep deprivation can have negative physical and mental health outcomes

Secondly, sleep deprivation impairs cognitive performance. Studies have found that daytime napping reduces attention span and vocabulary in preschool-aged children. These children also experienced poorer sleep quality, which could negatively impact their development. Similarly, adults who do not get enough sleep may experience learning and memory issues.

Thirdly, insufficient sleep can affect your metabolism and raise hormones that increase your appetite and lead to weight gain.

Finally, sleep deprivation can negatively impact your mental health. For example, a person with narcolepsy mentioned that their sleep deficiency symptoms included "forgetfulness/bad memory, no energy, bad/more difficult decision-making, anxiety, falling asleep/being too tired to think or function at inopportune times".

Sleep apnea and insomnia are linked

Sleep apnea and insomnia are closely linked. When an individual has both conditions, it is known as comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA). Research shows that the chance of someone with one of these conditions having the other is between 30% and 50%.

Several factors may explain the link between insomnia and sleep apnea. For example, sleep apnea can cause sleep disturbances, and insomnia may worsen sleep apnea symptoms by reducing oxygen saturation. Sleep deprivation caused by insomnia may also reduce upper-airway muscle tone, making it harder for an individual to breathe.

There is no standardised diagnostic protocol for COMISA. Doctors must make separate diagnoses for insomnia and sleep apnea. Treatment for COMISA will involve treating both conditions. However, as insomnia can make CPAP therapy for sleep apnea harder to tolerate, some scientists recommend treating insomnia before sleep apnea.

Biphasic sleep involves two sleep periods

Biphasic sleep is also referred to as segmented or bimodal sleep. It is a sleep pattern that is practiced by a variety of people across cultures. For example, people who take siestas are considered biphasic sleepers. Some people adopt a biphasic sleep schedule to maximize their productivity, while others follow this sleep pattern due to their natural sleep cycles.

There are different types of biphasic sleep schedules:

• Siesta Sleep Schedule: Residents of countries such as Spain, Italy, and some Latin American and Middle Eastern countries take a 60- to 90-minute siesta during the day, usually in the afternoon, and then sleep for five to six hours per night.
• Midday Nap Sleep Schedule: This involves a short, 20- or 30-minute nap during the day and a longer sleep of six or seven hours per night.
• First/Second Sleep Schedule: This is the original biphasic sleep schedule from the preindustrial era, where people would sleep for a few hours from around 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., wake up for an hour or two around midnight, and then have their second sleep phase.

There is no definitive evidence that biphasic sleep is better or worse than monophasic sleep. Some research suggests that biphasic sleep patterns are natural adaptations to environmental changes, such as seasonal shifts in weather, daylight, and food availability.

If you are interested in trying a biphasic sleep schedule, it is recommended that you choose a pattern that suits your work schedule, environment, and social life. It is also important to limit exposure to artificial light and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

Segmented sleep is not a new idea

Segmented sleep, or biphasic sleep, is not a new idea. In pre-industrial times, before electricity, it was common to sleep in two distinct phases, with a period of wakefulness in between. Historian Roger Ekirch, author of 'At Day's Close: Night in Times Past', found evidence of this pattern in documents from the ancient, medieval, and modern world.

During this intervening period of wakefulness, people would pray, smoke, have sex, or visit their neighbours. This period was also used for creative pursuits, reading, meditation, or work.

This type of sleep pattern was the norm even in cultures near the equator, where residents' circadian rhythms are not affected by changing seasons. Furthermore, a study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that people who received 10 hours of light a day (similar to a winter's day) naturally slept in two chunks, with a few hours of wakefulness in between. This sleep pattern is also closer to how animals sleep.

In the past, people would go to bed just after dusk and sleep for a few hours. They would then wake up around midnight and stay awake for a couple of hours before falling back asleep for their second sleep phase, which lasted until morning. This type of sleep pattern has been referred to as "first sleep" and "second sleep" in various languages, including medieval English, French, Italian, and Latin.

While segmented sleep was common in pre-industrial societies, the advent of artificial lighting and the Industrial Revolution led humans to adopt a monophasic sleep pattern, sleeping through the night in one block. However, some people still practice segmented sleep today, either by choice or due to life circumstances such as shift work or parenting.

Sleep is essential for overall well-being

Chronic sleep deprivation can have serious health consequences, including an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, and depression. It can also lead to hyperactivity and attention problems in children and increase the risk of accidents for people of all ages.

In addition to the physical benefits, sleep is vital for our mental and emotional well-being. It helps regulate our mood, improve our ability to communicate, enhance learning and retention, and promote healthy aging. Sleep is so important that it is often referred to as the "third pillar of health," alongside diet and exercise.

While some people may naturally follow a biphasic or segmented sleep pattern, sleeping every two days is not considered healthy. The body needs a consistent sleep schedule to function optimally. However, if you are struggling to get enough sleep during the week, it is better to allow yourself to sleep in for an hour or two on the weekends rather than sticking to a rigid schedule and accumulating sleep debt.

Overall, sleep is a non-negotiable component of a healthy lifestyle. Prioritizing sleep and maintaining a regular sleep schedule are crucial steps towards improving overall health and well-being.

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